Chapter 12

“I…”

Wei Shuyu was stunned for an instant. Jin Yizhu’s invitation had been so natural that she had even forgotten to refuse, or rather, she had not wanted to refuse deep down? Wei Shuyu did not dare to think too deeply about it and simply picked up her glass again, taking a sip.

“Wednesday works. I’ll have a short meeting in the afternoon and be done by two.”

After she said it, she regretted it.

Why had she explained it in such detail to Jin Yizhu? In fact, Jin Yizhu would not care what she was doing at all.

She only wanted the result—as long as she went for afternoon tea with her, nothing else mattered.

“Great, then I’ll have Uncle He wait for you at the school at two on Wednesday.” Jin Yizhu suddenly reached out and took her glass. “Why keep drinking this? Is it that good?”

The cold, crisp aroma of the liquor hit her tongue, followed by a subtle sweetness. The quality was quite outstanding, but not to the point where she would crave more after tasting it, right? Jin Yizhu was a bit surprised. Her family’s bartender made martinis that were no worse than this, yet she had not seen Wei Shuyu drink much that day.

“By the way, I had the bartender at home practice a bit. His martinis are better than this now. Come try them next time.”

Jin Yizhu pushed the glass back in front of Wei Shuyu. She was a very loyal person—her glass was still whiskey on the rocks.

Lagavulin 16, not typically served as an aperitif and not even on the menu. When she had ordered it, the server had been stunned for a second.

“There might not be a next time.” Wei Shuyu replied, thinking there probably would not be.

Her family’s bartender was in Hong Kong. Why would she go there for no reason? For a layover?

“Mm, what do you want to eat tomorrow night?” Jin Yizhu asked. “How about sukiyaki? I’ll have someone line up early.”

“That works, but having someone line up for us isn’t great,” Wei Shuyu said. “The Japanese are fussy—if they don’t let you in, it’ll be annoying.”

“Then we’ll find a place that takes reservations.” Jin Yizhu did not mind much. “There are so many century-old famous spots; we don’t have to go to any one in particular.”

The food arrived, plated exquisitely and beautifully, even better than what she had eaten in Hong Kong last time.

Today, they were in no rush to go anywhere and could enjoy it properly.

Wei Shuyu had not expected to eat with Jin Yizhu again and had prepared no topics.

Jin Yizhu, however, was full of enthusiasm. She recounted all the fresh events from the past six months, from surfing in Hawaii to skiing in Hokkaido. She said that after Wei Shuyu left, she had gone to see a few musicals herself but had not been able to muster much interest. Unexpectedly, Uncle He had accompanied her a few times and fallen in love with them; now he spent all his free time at the theater.

No wonder Elizabeth had been playing in the car, Wei Shuyu thought. Jin Yizhu had probably been forced to listen to plenty of excerpts.

“Too bad none of them are as fun as you,” Jin Yizhu concluded in the end. “I don’t know why, but I don’t like listening to them talk.”

Them probably referred to her new playmates.

Wei Shuyu knew very well that she was not the first person to accompany Jin Yizhu to Tokyo Disneyland, nor would she be the last.

Jin Yizhu could not stand being alone; she always needed someone by her side.

Her real friends were mostly children of family allies, with careers and studies of their own, busy with their own affairs. They could not match her schedule completely, so what to do with the empty time?

Throw money at it.

All sorts of hobbies, newly hired assistants and secretaries—there were always all kinds of girls willing to accept her gifts and invitations to become her friends.

Could those people reach her heart? Did Jin Yizhu really care about them?

Wei Shuyu did not know. She only felt that Jin Yizhu, as she said these things, looked extremely lonely.

It made her heart tremble almost uncontrollably.

For a moment, she wanted to tell Jin Yizhu the reason. She wanted to say, don’t look for them anymore; it’s useless. They just want to eat, drink, and play with you, take photos in pretty places and stroll around, but that’s not real emotion. If someone never shares their private feelings with you, it’s as if they don’t exist—they can’t give you what you want.

But she looked into Jin Yizhu’s eyes, those beautiful peach-blossom eyes slightly narrowed with a hint of alcohol, immersed in happiness, and she could not bear to say it.

Forget it. She was so happy; it was not the right time to say such things.

Besides, their relationship had not reached the point where she could say them.

“Are you free at noon?” As she spoke, Jin Yizhu had a new idea. “We could do brunch. After that, I’ll go to my meeting, and you can head to school. Wouldn’t that be great?”

“Noon… not really free.” Wei Shuyu hesitated.

“Really?” Jin Yizhu sighed. “Too bad I have things all other times except tomorrow night, so I can’t have dinner with you.”

Wei Shuyu almost wanted to laugh. “Are you trying to book up my entire week?”

“Mm,” Jin Yizhu nodded. “Can’t I?”

Wei Shuyu shook her head. She thought Jin Yizhu was probably the type who, if she liked something, had to have her fill of it.

Unrestrained, like a child.

The French meal set ended around eight.

An awkward time—most shops in Tokyo were about to close, and even in Ginza, there was not much to browse.

“Want to find another place for drinks?” Jin Yizhu asked her. “There’s a bar nearby with a view of Tokyo Tower.”

“No, I have to get up early tomorrow.”

Wei Shuyu shook her head. Going to a bar now, who knew when it would end.

“Next time.”

Jin Yizhu nodded. “Then Uncle He will drop you off first later.”

She did not pester, and Wei Shuyu felt a bit unaccustomed. She asked, “What about you?”

“Me? He’ll drop you off first, then take me back,” Jin Yizhu said. “I live around here.”

“Oh…” Wei Shuyu smiled faintly. “I thought you’d go drink by yourself.”

“Drinking alone is no fun,” Jin Yizhu shook her head. “Better wait until you’re free.”

Wei Shuyu could not help but look up at Jin Yizhu.

Under the soft glow of the crystal lights, Jin Yizhu’s eyelashes were long and fine, her jawline smooth and beautiful. Her entire face was flawlessly perfect.

She had chosen all different types of whiskeys for the meal wine, and now, after drinking, a flush of alcohol finally colored her cheeks.

Less oppressive than usual, with a touch more gentle charm.

The server brought her coat—a tailored long suit jacket that matched her silk blouse perfectly, light yet dignified.

“Give it to her.” Jin Yizhu lifted her chin. “It’s cold outside. Put it on.”

Wei Shuyu silently draped on the coat. The cold fabric held only a faint scent; Jin Yizhu’s warmth had already dissipated.

The temperature outside was still not high, but without the earlier gale, it felt more comfortable.

The moonlight was pale, almost completely overshadowed by the lights.

Wei Shuyu looked up for a moment, then withdrew her gaze.

Uncle He waited at the door. When he saw them coming, he opened the car door for them.

Wei Shuyu almost suggested a walk but swallowed the words.

Jin Yizhu always had clear intentions. If it was dinner, it was dinner; if drinks, then drinks. There was no gray area.

She probably had not even considered a post-dinner stroll, even if Ebisu’s night view was so beautiful.

Wei Shuyu got in the car. Uncle He asked, “Miss Wei, where would be most convenient to drop you?”

She looked up at Uncle He. His expression was calm; he had probably guessed she would not give her exact address.

Wei Shuyu named a train station. Uncle He nodded. “It’s a quiet neighborhood. It’ll take about twenty-five minutes.”

“Quiet? I’ve never heard of it.” Jin Yizhu checked on her phone. “That’s almost outside the twenty-three wards.”

Wei Shuyu glanced at her. Jin Yizhu’s expression was subtle; she was clearly about to launch into the rent-you-an-apartment spiel again.

“Eldest Miss, you live in Minato Ward most of the time, so you might not be familiar with other areas.”

Uncle He had clearly been spooked by the earlier atmosphere. He had prepared meticulously during their meal and was now frantically smoothing things over.

“The area Miss Wei lives in has a strong artistic vibe. Many writers and painters have lived there. It suits her very well.”

“Mm,” Wei Shuyu wanted to laugh but felt it was not quite right. “Uncle He is right.”

From the rearview mirror, she saw Uncle He visibly relax.

Jin Yizhu held her phone and inexplicably laughed along. “Alright then. If you need anything, just tell me.”

It was strange; she felt in a great mood.

Jin Yizhu touched her own face; it was a bit hot. Her heart felt light and floaty, like skydiving, drifting on clouds.

Was it the dinner? Especially delicious?

No, she had eaten at Joel Robuchon plenty of times; it was practically her Tokyo canteen. Nothing special.

The wine was standard too; nothing exceptional.

So…

It had to be because of her.

Jin Yizhu turned her head and looked at Wei Shuyu, sighing sincerely, “Wei Shuyu, I really like you.”

“?!”

Even though Wei Shuyu had not had any emotional fluctuations in a long time, this sudden confession still shook her.

She did not speak for a long while. Jin Yizhu reached out again, took her hand, and shook it gently, asking:

“Wei Shuyu, don’t you like me?”

“…”

Wei Shuyu was shocked by her calmness and frankness. She slowly turned her head, her mind racing with how to answer.

Say she liked her? Not to that extent, but not dislike either.

Say she did not? Not to that extent; she actually found her quite cute.

“Uh…”

She had steeled herself mentally, only to meet a pair of clear, puzzled eyes.

Perhaps because of the alcohol or her good mood, the dark, unspoken part of Jin Yizhu had vanished. That possessive, clinging gaze seemed never to have existed, giving her an innocent beauty.

…So it was a straight girl’s kind of liking.

The type she could give out to eight hundred people a minute, where every friend got an equal like card.

“Mm, yeah, I like you too.”

Wei Shuyu lost interest instantly and nodded perfunctorily.

“You’re drunk. Rest for a bit.”

She was not so bored as to debate with a straight girl about platonic versus romantic liking.

It did not matter; it was not the same kind of like anyway.

Wei Shuyu ended the topic and let Jin Yizhu hold her hand, sometimes rubbing her knuckles, sometimes pinching her palm.

The car had the AC on, at a comfortable temperature. She did not know what fragrance Jin Yizhu had chosen; it smelled of ocean and bamboo groves.

It was so comfortable that before she knew it, Wei Shuyu fell asleep.

Her last thought before drifting off was that her Tokyo life probably would not be peaceful anymore.

The person beside her would likely turn it upside down.

Then smile innocently at her and say she would take responsibility.

Who wants your responsibility… Wei Shuyu thought hazily. What could you even be responsible for?